With pianists dominating the final of the 20th Sanlam National Music Competition at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow on Friday, 26 September, the outcome wasn’t too much of a surprise. A pianist, Lezanti van Sittert (12) from Pretoria clinched the gold medal, with Steven Chang (12) from Durbanville taking silver. Bronze went to violinist Jessie Brand (11), also from Durbanville.

The competition is the only one at this level in South Africa, and was contested over four rounds, with 64 participants competing in the first two rounds. These were narrowed down to 22 for the third round, and down to eight, with six on piano, one on violin and one on recorder, for the final round.

Apart from overall first prize, Van Sittert, who is in Grade 6 at Theresapark Primary School and a student of Ms Claudine van Breda from Pretoria, also won the category prize for piano.

The other category prizes went to:

*Jessie Brand, a Grade 6 learner at Herschel Primary School in Cape Town, and student of Prof. Jack de Wet for the Strings category;
*Nicholas Redelinghuys on clarinet, a Grade 7 learner at St John’s Preparatory School in Johannesburg, and student of Allan Thompson for the Woodwind and Brass category; and
*Fladia Buongiorno on recorder, student of Olivera Nikolíc of Lyttleton, from Glenanda Primary School in Bassonia, Johannesburg for the Other Instruments category, for the second year in succession.

Dimunitive pianist Landi Schaap, aged 10 on piano from Lynnwood Primary, Pretoria - another Van Breda student - was considered the most promising participant in the age group "10 and younger".

Jeremy Choi, aged 13 on piano, from Gene Louw Primary School, Durbanville and student of Alta Klopper, was adjudged the best participant from the Tygerberg region of the South African Society of Music Teachers.

Another pianist - Margie Fan, in Grade 7 at Umhlati Preparatory School, KwaZulu-Natal - won the prize for the best execution of a South African composition for her interpretation of A. Johnson’s Jazz Impromptu.

Also competing in the final round of eight were Gina Horscroft, age 12 from Redhill School in Morningside; Roelof Temmingh, age 11 from Stellenbosch Primary; and Elizabeth Bekker, age 13 from Constantiapark Primary School, Pretoria – all on piano.

Apart from their other prizes, the four category winners also received Unisa bursaries for free exams at the university.

The Sanlam competition is presented annually by the South African Society of Music Teachers (Tygerberg) for learners up to and including grade seven. The purpose is to identify promising music learners, and to give them the opportunity to compete at national level at an early stage. The talented young participants are selected for the competition after auditions in the main centres of South Africa.

It is the only competition of its kind for primary school learners in this country and, in the past 20 years, has been the first step on the road to acclaim for many young South African musicians, even internationally.